Novato trims gifted program in response to state cuts

Novato schools have cut $43,427 from the district's program for gifted and talented students in response to state budget cuts.

But district officials say those funds - which provided for testing, classroom materials and oversight of the program - make up a small portion of the services available for Novato's gifted students, and that overall services will remain intact.

"If you're looking at the classroom teaching, what we get from the state is minuscule," Superintendent Jan LaTorre-Derby told the board at its meeting Tuesday. "Our general fund has always supported the program, and that has always been your decision to fund."

After cutting its $49,616 in funding for Novato's gifted education program by $12,280 in the last year, the state eliminated specific funding for the program altogether this year. Instead, school districts have the option to draw money for gifted and talented programs from a pool of "categorical funds" that includes funding for other programs, like capping class sizes and hiring teachers' aides.

"The state is washing its hands of funding for these kids," trustee Ross Millerick said. "What's left for them is whatever Novato thinks should be funded."

The Novato district has responded by cutting funding for classroom materials and reducing its testing budget from $33,107 to $18,000. Instead of testing all third-graders for the program, the district will now test only those students recommended by their teachers.

"Prior to last year, we identified (gifted) students through the referral process," said Kathy Marshall, district director of curriculum and instruction. "Last year, we tested all third grade students. We identified the same number as we had in previous years."

In addition, the district has dismantled its central oversight advisory for the program, opting instead to allow each elementary and middle school to manage its own program.

The changes prompted parent Kim Connolly to suggest that other parents of gifted students follow the example of parents of students with special needs in creating a fund-raising foundation for gifted education.

Novato identifies gifted children as those who ask numerous questions, memorize information rapidly, are extremely curious, have a large vocabulary, solve complex abstract problems, have an unusual imagination and prefer to work alone, based on national guidelines. Its gifted and talented program provides elementary students with additional content in English language arts, social studies, science and physical education, and gives students in the fourth and fifth grades the opportunity to meet all day with one teacher.

Currently, 91 elementary students and 219 middle school students take part in the gifted program. That's about 6 percent of Novato's 5,140 students in grades K-8, roughly the state average for students considered gifted and talented.